http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Micah s Idols Judges 17:1-13
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Judges 17:1-13, Micah s Idols Commentary by Ron Thomas 1. Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2. said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!" 3. When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you." 4. So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah's house. 5. Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. 6. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. 7. A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8. left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. 9. Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah," he said, "and I'm looking for a place to stay."
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 10. Then Micah said to him, "Live with me and be my father and priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food." 11. So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons. 12. Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13. And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest." (NIV) Introduction: Chapters 17 21 I. A casual reading of these five chapters brings to the attention of the reader that they might seem out of place. A. In other words, there is not an easy transition from chapter 16 to 17 like there is between each chapter coming before it. B. Some scholars believe the events of these chapters actually correspond to the events of Judges 1-3. 1. Perhaps that is so (it does make sense). 2. It is interesting to note that Josephus has this section of Judges (Judges 19ff), as we have it in our English Bible, at the beginning of his history after the death of Joshua (Antiquities, 5.2.8, p. 136). C. However, the Holy Spirit thought it best to have these chapters placed in this portion of the book and, thus, we comment on them here.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 II. In this section we are introduced to the inner workings of religious syncretism. A. Syncretism is a way of thinking that melts into a single system a variety of religious thinking. B. Religious syncretism involves the blending together of different religious attitudes and ideas into one system (Davis, p. 143). C. This religious syncretism, however, was not exclusive to that time; it also plagues people today, including New Testament Christians. III. The book-ends of these five chapters are found in 17:6 and 21:25. A. Judges 17:6, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. B. Judges 21:25, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Commentary: Everyone Did Right In His Own Eyes. Judges 17:1-13, Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!" When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you." So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah's house. Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah," he said, "and I'm looking for a place to stay." Then Micah said to him, "Live with me and be my father and priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food." So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons. Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest." (NIV) I. Micah and his mother. A. Judges 17:1-5, Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!" When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, "I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you." So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah's house. Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 1. The territory of Ephraim housed the tabernacle in Shiloh (Joshua 16:6; 18:1). a. Joshua 16:6, and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. (NIV) b. Joshua 18:1, The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, (NIV) 2. Micah stole 1100 pieces (shekels) of silver. a. Wolf said this was in comparison with an annual wage of 10 shekels (17:10) a huge amount stolen! i. Judges 17:10, Then Micah said to him, "Live with me and be my father and priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food." 3. Leveling a curse upon one was actually a frightening thought. a. Perhaps the son Micah took the weight of that curse against him and decided to repent. b. To off-set that curse, his mother called a blessing upon him. 4. Note the syncretism in verse 3; dedicated to the Lord in order to make a carved image!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 a. Compare that with Exodus 20:4-5 and Deuteronomy 27:15. i. Exodus 20:4, 5, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (NIV) ii. Deuteronomy 27:15, "Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman's hands and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" (NIV) b. She thought to bless her son with the return of the stolen property but was only cursed by the Lord Himself. 5. Younger noted that according to Leviticus 6:1-6, Micah should have confessed his sin to the Lord by paying restitution to the Lord and sacrificing a guilt offering. a. Leviticus 6:1-6, The LORD said to Moses: "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do- when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 lost property he found, or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. (NIV) b. As far as the record is concerned, neither of these things was done. 6. The words of 17:4-5 previews the events of 1 Kings 12:25-33. a. Judges 17:4, 5, So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah's house. Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. (NIV) b. 1 Kings 12:25-33, Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel. Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam." After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." One he set up in
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there. Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings. (NIV) II. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 17:6 A. Judges 17:6, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. 1. There was no king in Israel. a. Clearly the idea of a physical king was in view, but in practicality, there was no King on the hearts of the people who lived in Israel. b. It is to be expected that coming out of Egypt, much of their influence would have been from Egypt. c. However, the Lord demonstrated His authority enough times that He accepted from them not one excuse. 2. When we decide to set aside the Lord s law, we also will follow our own heart.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 a. The result will be heartache in this life and destruction in the next! III. The Levite from Judah. 17:7-13 A. Judges 17:7-13, A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah," he said, "and I'm looking for a place to stay." Then Micah said to him, "Live with me and be my father and priest, and I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food." So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons. Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. And Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest." (NIV) 1. A young Levite from Bethlehem (in Judah) left in order to find a place of service (17:9). a. Judges 17:9, Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah," he said, "and I'm looking for a place to stay." (NIV) b. Davis commented that Bethlehem, not being a Levitical city, and the young Levite living there might be indicative of the apostasy occurring within God s designated religious tribe at such an early date. c. Was he there because there was no support from those who should have given it?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 d. The failure of the Israelites to obey the Law had probably resulted in a lack of support for the Levites and may explain the man s wandering in search of subsistence (Younger, p. 339). 2. Micah met the young Levite. a. The young Levite was of the family of Gershom (son of Moses; 18:30); he was not a priest in accordance with God s law (Exodus 28:1-3). i. Judges 18:30, There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. (NIV) ii. Exodus 28:1-3, "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. (NIV) iii. Wolf said it succinctly, Jonathan s attempt to minister was abortive (p. 482). iv. As Younger noted, all this was in the backyard of God s appointed shrine, Shiloh (Joshua 16:6; 18:1).
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 *Joshua 16:6, and continued to the sea. From Micmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east. (NIV) *Joshua 18:1, The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The country was brought under their control, (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 Bibliography Herbert Wolf, Expositor s Bible Commentary (volume 3, pages 375-506) John J. Davis & John C. Whitcomb, Israel: From Conquest to Exile: A Commentary of Joshua to 2 Kings (pages 93-152). Josephus, Antiquities John Kachelman, Studies in Judges. K. Lawson Younger, Jr. The NIV Application Commenary: Judges/Ruth Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua 2 Samuel (volume 2, pages 237-464) The Interpreter s Bible, Volume 2
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 Questions Judges 17:1-13 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. What confession did Micah make to his mother? 2. How much were eleven hundred shekels of silver worth? Was Micah s family rich? 3. What was Micah s mother s response to the return of the stolen silver? What did she do that could be regarded as commendable? What did she do that could be regarded as reprehensible? 4. Micah set up a shrine with an ephod and some idols and appointed his son as priest. Micah was religious. Was this good enough? Why or why not?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 5. Was it good that Israel had no king in those days? Give reasons for your answer. 6.... everyone did as he saw fit. Was this freedom good? Why or why not? 7. A wandering levite took up residence with Micah and was appointed father and priest and was like one of his sons to Micah. Did this make everything alright? Give reasons for your response. 8. The levite was paid room, board, clothes and ten shekels of silver a year. How does this compare with what your preacher is paid? How does it compare with Paul s and Peter s salaries? Would the wandering levite have gone on down the road if a better deal could have been struck elsewhere?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 9. Was Micah right when he said, Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest. Why or why not? 10. Are chapters 17-21 in chronological order as found in the Bible? How important is it that the chapters be arranged in chronological order? 11. List all the descriptive words of which you can think that are applicable to Micah. 12. What words properly describe Micah s mother?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 13. How would you describe the wandering Levite? 14. What is syncretism? Give examples of its presence in Judges 17. 15. What lessons can we learn from Judges 17?